Computer Science Needed in Space?

[Monster92]

exploration of course

So my situation is that I live in England and am about to enter a computer science degree course. How in demand are computer scientist needed for space agencies? I know NASA and the British Space Agency say on their websites that they do take computer scientists. However, is it seldom that a CS grad gets to work for them?

If so, how else can I contribute to science in someway?

 

[chiro]

exploration of course

So my situation is that I live in England and am about to enter a computer science degree course. How in demand are computer scientist needed for space agencies? I know NASA and the British Space Agency say on their websites that they do take computer scientists. However, is it seldom that a CS grad gets to work for them?

If so, how else can I contribute to science in someway?

This is speculation just so you know, but from past knowledge of defense programming (ADA), there are very strict protocols that are used when developing software for critical systems like defense products and I guarantee that organizations like NASA also have very strict specifications regarding development especially with regards to embedded systems.

Based on this, I would speculate that from the point of view of developing error-free software, there is a need for computer scientists at least for coming up with frameworks and protocols for developing error-free software.

Hardware-wise defence has strict standards about what kind of hardware is physically used (that is you can't just use the same kind of hardware that you find in your standard consumer products).

If you are interested in the defence side of software development, get a book on Ada or maybe visit a website that has some detailed information.

 

[Monster92]

This is speculation just so you know, but from past knowledge of defense programming (ADA), there are very strict protocols that are used when developing software for critical systems like defense products and I guarantee that organizations like NASA also have very strict specifications regarding development especially with regards to embedded systems.

Based on this, I would speculate that from the point of view of developing error-free software, there is a need for computer scientists at least for coming up with frameworks and protocols for developing error-free software.

Hardware-wise defence has strict standards about what kind of hardware is physically used (that is you can't just use the same kind of hardware that you find in your standard consumer products).

If you are interested in the defence side of software development, get a book on Ada or maybe visit a website that has some detailed information.

Thank you very much for your time. I'm currently investing interest in ADA now that you brought it up.The defence side of software development does seem a path I may like.

 

[mal4mac]

So my situation is that I live in England and am about to enter a computer science degree course. How in demand are computer scientist needed for space agencies? I know NASA and the British Space Agency say on their websites that they do take computer scientists. However, is it seldom that a CS grad gets to work for them?

Can't think of an organisation that uses computers more! So the demand is *great*.

Why not aim to take a specialised MSc, like:

http://www.surrey.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/space/

Then again, why are doing a computer science BSc in the first place?

Why not do space engineering *now*

http://www.kingston.ac.uk/undergraduate-course/astronautics-space-technology-2012/